Method of and apparatus for separating coal and like substances and impurities mingled therewith



May 15, 1923. 1,455,469 w. D. 'ALTHQUSE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING GOAL AND LIKE SUBSTANCES AND IMPURITIES MINGLED THEREWITH v Filed AUBZ. 22 1922 Wilson D. Al'ihouse, v

Patented May 15, 1923.

WILSON D. eL'rnousn, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND .arrana rus FOB snPAeAriNe-coAL AND LIKE s UBsTANcEsjA D IMPURITIEsiaINGLiiD'THEBEWITH." 1 v v Application filed August 22, 192 2. Serial No.'583,629.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILSON 5 and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Separating Coal and like Substances and Im urities Mingled Therewith, of which the f0 lowing 10. is a specification.

This invention consists in a novel method.

tion, into an ascending air column of force.

sufiicient to lift and carry with it all particles of lower specific gravity than that of I slate, which is about 1.90, the slate falling out of the ascending column and being led away; next deflecting the air current sharply and at the same time admitting a regulated additional supply of air, whereby the volume of air is increased and the velocity is reduced, thus permitting the. bone or bone-coal, which has a specific gravity of rent through a second ascending air column, while the pure coal, of a specific gravity of about 1.35, is carried onward to a pipe or separating chamber of larger diameter, and delivered into a third ascending air column,

through which the pure coal is permitted to fall by reason of the reduced velocity of the current. Each pipe or chamber after the first is, preferably, furnished at its lower end with an automatic valve to prevent ingress of air at such points, and consequent disturbance or-variation of pressure from that required'at any given point or points in the system. Y The accompanying drawing illustrates a preferred .form of apparatus by which the process may be carried out and will aid in explaining such process, but it is to be understood that the drawing illustrates only one embodiment or form of apparatus for the purpose. In other words, the principle or mode of separation may be utilized in or through the use of apparatus difiering considerably from that illustrated.

, Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 about 1.45 to 1.65, to-fall from the air cur ends thereof.

communicates by a pipe or conduit 16, ad

v of high power.

' f indicates a feed hopper which receives the D. Anrnousn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelph a mixed coal, bone, or bone-coal and slate to be treated, and delivers the same into ahori-f Zontal conveyor pipe or trunk 2, containing a conveyor 3 here shown as .ofwspiral form,

through which rotary motion mav betra is mitted bybelt or otherwise -from any primef' mover. The discharge end] of the conveyor pipe or trunkopens into an upright pipe or separating' chamber 6, open at its lower'end, and communicating at its upper end with a;

horizontal pipe or conduit 7 provided with a valve 8, preferably of the gate type, and

applied to'the end of, the pipe, though these,

latter details are unimportant. Pipe or con I duit'? opens into or communicates with la second upright pipe or separating chamber 9, which should be of at least as large diamueteror capacity as the chamber 6and1con duit '7, and may be slightly larger. This? pipe or chamber 9 is provided at its lower .end with a self-closing valve 10, orjequiv alent and usual means for practicallyv preventing ingress of air, while allowing egress of any solid product falling downward in or through said pipe. The upper end of pipe'or chamber 9 is provided witha T or "short three-branched pipe section 11, flanged atboth: ends, and".

sealed at one end by a removable cap-plate or closure 12. Said pipe'or chamber 19 is also formed or furnished witha branchor Y, 13,which connects and communicates with, one end of a'i' 14 similar to T Y11, and the: other endv of whichis connected by ajsu'itable coupling ,15 with the unsealed end of T 11, so that chamber 9 is'placed in communication with the T 14 at theilower and upper The lateral branch of T 14 visably of somewhat greater cross-sectional area than. pipe 9, with a third uprightpipe or separating chamber li, provided/at its lower end with ,anautomatic 'valve l8, ,and' connected at its upper end witha pipe or extension 19 which leads to the e e of an exhaust fan 20,- or equivalent suction device Pipe or chamber 9 is provided below the Y 13' with alateral branch 21, whichmay be closed or opened to any desired extent by a' valve 22 of any suitable type.

The. apparatus being thusj constructed jan'd valves 8 and being wholly om-partially fat 1 closed, hopper 1 is supplied with the minthrough the connecting pipes or conduits,"

gled coal, slate and bone or bone-coal to be vtreated and the conveyor 3 and exhaust fan 20 are caused to operate at suitable speeds. The conveyor delivers the mixture in a stea dy'stream to pipe or chamber 9, and the suction fan causes a current of air to flow and produces in each of the separating chambers 6, 9 and 17 an ascending column of I It now there be discharged through the open lower end of pipe or chamber 6 a quantity of the heaviest of the several subi I, stances, slate, closely approximating its known percentage in the volume of mixture passing, valve 8 is left as adjusted. If the discharge be less than the known slate-content percentage, the valve 8 is opened some- .wliat', thus "admitting air atthat point, in-

the ascending air column of chamber 6, while all matters of "appreciably lower specific gravity will be carried upward through said chamberaiid deliveredinto pipe or chamber 9. A second and similar separation takes place in pipe or chamber 9 between substances of'appro'ximately 1.45 to 1.65 specific gravity, such as impure coal, bone-coal, and

bone, and that or those of appreciably or materially lower specific gravity, chiefly or wnou pure coal which, as stated, is of about 1'.3'5 ""specific gravity; I

, The jbo'clies' or matters of 145 specific gravity and higher will descend through and be discharged frcm'pipe or chamber 9,

-while those of appreciably lower specific gravity 'willascend said pipe or chamber,

and pass by T 14 and conduit 16 to the larger upright'pipe'or chamber 17. It-will be noted'that pipe or chamber 9 communicateswith T 14: both by the Y 13 an'd by 'T 11, while valve22 being below thefYj13, ad-

' mits air to pipe or chamber 9 near its lower endand some distance below the point'at which conduit 7 communicates with said pipe or chamber 9. i

The result of this arrangement isthat air.

in quantity controlled'by valve 22, adjusted in. accordance with the discharge from chamber 9, as previously explained with reference tok'zhaniber 6 and valve 8, is drawn into the lower portion of pipe or chamber the P P P chamber 9 'wlhile'the ai'r column rising throughcham-- ber' 'eand entering through valve 8, enters v The air e1itermg through valve 22 in ascending, alone -meetsfmatter's falling throughchamber 9,

and taking themore direct route afforded by the Y 13 has littleor no eflect on the air-entering the upper part of pipe or chamber 9,

this latter current being thus left to perform the duty of carrying over into pipe or conduit l6 and upright pipe or chamber 17, the pure coal, or products of specific gravity below 1.4:5. r

This arrangement of air pipes and chambers permits tlievelocity of the air column ascending through the lower portion of pipe or chamber 9 to be accurately regulated and determined by proper adjustment of valve 22, practically unaffected by the air leaving the uoper part of said chamber '9 and'pass- J, mg to conduit 16. I

The larger cross section of pipe or chamber 17 as compared with that of pipe or chamber '9 and conduit 16, permits the-air entering it to expand, increasing its volume and lessening its velocity, thus permitting all matters having a Specific gravity materiallybelow 1.45 to fall through the pip'e'or chamber 17, while the-air passing to the'exhaust fan carries only the'dust andlighte'r floating matters.

In practice it has been found expedient 'or advantageous to make the pipes or' cham- 7 bers (Sand 9 ot about fourteen inches-internal diameter, the pipe or conduit 16 of about sixteen inches internal diameteiya d, the pipe or chamber li'and extension or about twenty inches internal diameter, but

these dimensions-and proportions may be Varied at will within somewhat wide limits.

So, too, as above stated, it found that better results are attainable iiftlie coalbe brought to a size of approximately one cubic inch before treatment in the apparatiisfbut here again it is permissible andpractic'able to depart from thespecific siz estated, andto treat coal of larger or smaller dimensions. So far,'however, as practical use of thep'rocess and apparatus has'yet 'indicated,'the several dimensions proposed are deemed the best forgeneraladoption and'use.

The abrupt change of direction of flow or the air current at each'point'whe're the coal or coal and other matters enter a separating chamber or upright pipe, is found a matter 9 of importance, and'a 'deg're'e change 111 the conduit is here'in'dicatediatsuch points. cleaner and sharper separation i'se'fiected with this than'with'aless"ab'rupt'chaiige' of flow, because the air and lighter matters change their direction somewhat readily and hence follow the generally ujg'iward' or forward flow, of the air, "while the'heavymat- .ters cannot do 'so 'and accordingly are c'arrled downward through the force of gravity.

Intlie drawing the weighted'val'ves are suggestive merely, fand 'm'ay be replaced by any common jor welllcnown form of outlet closure capable ofbe ing practically sealed against ingress of air by a rather small'accumulation of product, yet "permitting escape of product, when such accumulation reaches a given point. Many such closures or valves are common in the art, and the weighted valve is merely a type thereof, used for convenience and simplicity of illustration. i

The term pure coal is used to indicate coal which is as nearly pure as the better grades of cleaned or picked coal, though it may and usually does contain a percentage of impurities.

The removable cap or closure 12 is provided to facilitate clearing the conduit 7 or the separating. chamber 9 in case of need. Man-holes and valves may of course be provided at suitable points throughout the system. e i

It is obviously immaterial so far as the ultimate result, that is,the cleaning or separation of coal and its attendant impurities is concerned, how the air current is produced, whether by suction or by blast or pressure. The suction fan as here illustrated is found to be efiicient and economical, but so long as an air current of adequate velocity and volume be produced and made controllable both as to velocity and as to volume, the apparatus will be effective, and the process may be carried out.

It is possible also by properly varying the cross sectional area of the different separating chambers, to secure reasonably close separation without the use of the valves 8 and 22, but their use isdeemed highly advisable not only because securing closer separation, but also because affording a wider range of use of the apparatus, or its use with a wider range of products difiering in per centage and relative specific gravity of their component elements or constituents.

In the practical use ofthe apparatus it isfound that in addition to efiecting a remarkably clean separation of the pure and impure product, it causes a drying of wet or damp coal. This is quite advantageous in that it insures ascertainment of the true weight of the coal and, coupled with the removal of practically all dust, etc., from the coal, enables the producer or seller to base estimates and contracts upon a definitely ascertainable wastage.

What I claim is 1. The method of separating pure coal from impurities of greater specific gravity than the coal but mingled therewith which consists in subjecting the mingled coal and impurities to the lifting and carrying action of an ,air current caused to form successive ascending and confined columns of succes sively lower velocity, each column of force sufficient to carry upward and onward the mixture treated, except the content thereof having the greatest specific gravity of the several constituents entering any given column, and thereby progressively dropping out of the air current at difierentpoints the impurities, and finally, the pure coal.

2. The method of separating pure coal from impurities of greater specific gravity than the coal but. mingled therewith, which consists in subjecting the mingled coal and impurities to,the lifting andcarrying action. v of an air current caused; to form successive.

ascending and confined columns of successivelylower velocity and greater volume, each column: of force sufi'icient to carry upward and onward the IlllXtUIG treated, ex-

cept the content thereof having th'egreatest specific gravity of the several constituents entering any given column, and thereby pro-. gressively'drop'ping out of the air current at different points the impurities, and finally, the-pure coal. I v 3.,Apparatus for separating coal and impurities mingled therewith, comprising a pipe system or conduit-having a plurality of vertical chambers with discharge openings at theirlower ,ends; closures for said I openings, adapted to open-under weight of predetermined accumulation of material in the chambers; means for causing a continu ous flow of air through the conduit and chambers; and means for varying and controlling'the ingress of air at suitable points in the system, and thereby making the lifting power of the air currents in the several chambers progressively less.

4. Apparatus for separating coal and impurities mingled therewith, comprising a pipe system or conduit having a plurality of vertical chambers with discharge openings at their lower: ends and of successively larger cross section; closures for said discharge openings, adapted. to open under weight of predetermined accumulation of material in the chambers; means for causing a continuous flow of air through the conduit and chambers; and means for introducing into the first chamber of the series a continuous stream of the mingled coal and impurities, the conduit connecting the several chambers and serving to carry from each to the next the product less the impurities already removed. l

5. Apparatus for separating coal and impurities mingled therewith, comprisin a pipe system or conduit having a plurality of vertical chambers with discharge openings at their lower ends and of successively 6. The herein described apparatus "for separating coal and its impurities, comprising a pipe system or conduit and means connected with said system and serving to 'cause a constant flow ofair therethrough in one eneral directionu ri ht chambers g a P included in saidsystem,,ha-ving discharge system or-conduit and one 'or more of the chambers, to control the velocity and the volume of air therein; and means for supplying the mingled coal and impurities to the first of said chambers, the connection between the'severa'l chambers andthe conduit being made at approximately a right angle.

7. The herein described apparatus'for sep- 1 arating coal-and impurities mingled therew1th,-compr1s1ng a "pipe system or conduit and three upright chambers included in or in communication with said conduit, said" chambers having'discharge openings at their lower ends; means connected with said-conduit for causing alcontinuous flow of air therethrough and upward through the several chambers; a feed hopper; means for delivering material 7 from I said feed hopper to the first chamber; a valve for opening'the conduit to the atmosphere, 'or'partially or whollv closing the airinlet at'a point above 'the first chamber; a valve for permitting and controlling ingress of air to the lower portion of the second or intermediate chamher, said second chamber communicating with the third by a pipe or conduit section through apassage below and a passage above the top of the first chamber and the pipe connecting said chamber with the sec- 0nd; and means for excluding material ingress of air but permitting discharge of coal through the discharge openings bers other than the first. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WILSON D. ALTHOUSE.

of the Chem- 

